Australia defeated India by 66 runs in the third and final ODI on September 27 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot, to complete their comeback in the series India vs. Australia.
The Pat Cummins-led team, which had chosen to bat first, amassed a staggering 352/7 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks in large part to outstanding performances from David Warner (56 off 34), Mitchell Marsh (96 off 84), Steve Smith (74 off 61), and Marnus Labuschagne (72 off 58).
Virat Kohli (56 off 61), Shreyas Iyer (48 off 43), and captain Rohit Sharma all played solid runs as India was bowled out for 286 in response. Let’s look at the discussion points for the game:
1. David Warner hits his third straight fifty in the series.
The Australian opener got his team off to a strong start with a quick-fire innings of 56 off 34 balls, slamming six fours and four sixes. Notably, it was his third successive fifty of the series, and with 161 runs from three innings at an average of 89, he finished as the second-highest run scorer in the three-match event.
2. The six-hit show by Rohit Sharma
The Indian captain immediately attacked the bowlers after stepping up to the plate in fourth gear. Sharma took the initiative and played a brilliant innings of 81 off 57 balls, smacking six sixes and five fours.
3. With his four-fer, Glenn Maxwell steals the show.
The Australian all-rounder, who was playing in his maiden game of the series, was the major dismantler of the Indian batting order, taking four wickets and only allowing 40 runs in ten overs. Among his four strikes were the prized victims Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
Winning Captain, Pat Cummins, Australia said:
I must say I’m pretty happy to bowl in the night than in the heat. Both have not played a lot, Maxwell four-fer and Starcy looked in great rhythm. Trav Head won’t be fit for the start of the tournament. I will be pretty worried about opening the bowling against them [on Warner-Mitch Marsh]. Ash Agar is back home with a calf and Head won’t be fit for the next couple of weeks. Happy as it was the first hit where we have had almost a full-strength team.
Losing Captain, Rohit Sharma, India said:
I’m pretty happy, of course I would like to go all the way along but if I’m hitting like that I’m happy. The last 7-8 ODIs we have played really well, we have been challenged under different conditions and different teams, I thought we responded to that challenge pretty well. Unfortunately not the result we wanted today. [on Bumrah] I’m pretty happy, more importantly how he feels body-wise, he has got so much skill, one bad game can happen to anyone.
How he feels mentally and body-wise is key for us and that’s looking good for us. When we talk about the 15 we are very clear what we want. We are not confused, we know where we are headed as a team. It’s a team sport and we want everyone to come and play their part – that’s how we win championships. It’s about looking after the body and try and stay fresh for the next one and half months.
Player of the Match, Glenn Maxwell, India said:
Not too bad, is it! It has been a lot of hard work. The South Africa tour was a bit of a setback, but sped things up as well, got back home and got an injection. I don’t have any travel issues unlike the others. I look fresh. It’s nice to chip in, if Mitch Marsh wasthere on the field, we would have chopped and changed [on the bowling]. Since he was not there, had to bowl more. That will be the role of the allrounders in this World Cup. We are all trying to be as flexible as possible. We have a super-flexible list and it’s good to get some momentum before the World Cup.
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